Is studying at home possible?

Imagine this: you woke up feeling great.

You’re determined to be productive today by dedicating the whole day to study. You open your notebook, switch on your laptop, and settle down to start on your notes….only to realize that 20 minutes later, you’re on your phone watching YouTube videos of kittens and puppies for no real reason.

Sound familiar?

Studying at home can be difficult when you’re not prepared to face the distractions. All of a sudden, the presence of your bed, phone, and television makes it impossible to concentrate. The noise and commotion that never used to faze you, can now set you off at the slightest sound.

Here are some tips that will make your home study experience much easier and hopefully, productive!

1. Invest in a good headset

When you first try to study at home, it can feel like an impossible task. The noises of dogs barking, kids crying, and cars honking are all impossible to avoid, which is why I recommend getting a noise-cancelling headset. A good headset will block out most of the noise, allow you to study with minimal distractions, and most importantly, preserve your sanity.

It isn’t necessary to buy an expensive headset; a pair of good earplugs will do the job just as well. Just plug it in, play your favorite tunes and enjoy a peaceful study!

2. Keep your surroundings clean

Before you begin your studies, make sure to clean up your study area by organizing your desk. Clutter and mess in a room distracts us from being able to fully concentrate. A clean environment will freshen up your vibes and help you stay focused.

You can even take it further and light some scented candles to give the room a soothing presence. I find that lavender and jasmine fragrances are great for calming anxiety, which is always welcome for home study!

3. Create a study plan

Make a list of what you need to accomplish by the end of the day and break them down into small tasks. Smaller tasks don’t feel as overwhelming and are much easier to finish.

When you’re studying a course, it’s simpler to divide it into more manageable modules. After you complete one, cross it off your list and reward yourself with a short break. Creating these incentives for yourself builds intrinsic motivation, which will encourage more self-study habits in the long run!

4. Study with friends

Don’t forget to add in some social time with friends! Chatting for an hour or two with friends can motivate you to stay focused while studying. You can also help each other out with any chapters or assignments that you’re having trouble with.

I always find studying with friends helpful because they can keep me accountable with the tasks I need to do for the day. Not only can I get my daily need for socialization in, but it also staves off the boredom of studying alone. Share your study plan with your friends so they can keep you on track with your schedule, and you the same for them!

5. Take breaks for physical activity

Set a break time for your study session every few minutes. Get up, walk around, or stretch to get your body moving. Physical movement acts as a good stress-reliever and even helps to retain the information from your home learning. So, whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed, get a workout in!

You can do jumping jacks, stretch, walk around the room, or just go outside to get some fresh air and sunlight.

6. Eat well and sleep tight

One of the biggest temptations of studying at home is snacking. It gets pretty tempting to go all out when the kitchen and fridge is at your disposal, but try to resist the urge to snack when you’re studying. If you must, select healthy snacks like nuts, carrots, hummus, and fresh fruits. These help to boost brain power and avoid the dreaded ‘food coma’. You don’t want to waste time where you’re nodding off every few minutes!

Getting enough sleep of 7 to 8 hours at night is also important, so you wake up feeling well and refreshed to begin your studies of the day.

Having trouble with your online studies during COVID 19? Learn how to better manage your study habits here.